Konponji Temple on Sado Island off the coast of Niigata Prefecture is associated with the life in exile of the many men who were sent here after occurring the displeasure of the authorities.

One such exile was the radical priest Nichiren (1222-1282), who spent two years and five months on Sado from 1271-1274 after angering the Kamakura shogunate. It was here on Sado Island that Nichiren wrote two of his most influential works, his kaimoku-sho ("On the Opening of the Eyes") and the kanjin-no-honzon-sho ("The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind").

Konponji was built in 1607 with donations made by wealthy gold prospectors working on Sado and honors Nichren and his teachings. Konponji's temple precincts contain an impressive statue of Nichiren himself, a wooden bell tower and a pagoda.